Research Associate (Center for Social Policy)

UMass Boston · On-site

About this role

General Summary: 

The Center for Social Policy (CSP) is a research and evaluation think tank housed in the McCormack Graduate School in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Massachusetts Boston. It is dedicated to investigating the root causes of poverty and social inequities, aiming to generate impactful policy solutions that promote economic security and mobility.
 
Working with the Director, the part-time (.50 FTE) Research Associate will help develop and conduct research and related projects for CSP. Will also help pursue funding opportunities working with on-campus partners and external collaborators as appropriate, and interface with the grants administration and financial team as required.
 
Will develop work plans, including budgets, for projects which may include original data gathering, and submit applications to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) as needed. The Research Associate will manage applied research projects, ensuring compliance with university and IRB requirements, and oversee cleaning and analysis of data as well as the writing and preparing reports for publication. Responsibilities include supervising students. The Research Associate will present findings to multiple constituencies including academics, government agencies, media outlets, non-profit organizations, and community members depending on the project. Developing strong relationships with faculty, other researchers, and on- and off-campus partners including government agencies and community-based organizations is essential as CSP collaborates with a variety of partners on its research projects and programs.

Examples of Duties: 

•Assist in the development of research projects with the Director;
•Identify and help pursue external funding opportunities in collaboration with both on- and off-campus partners as appropriate;
•Write grant proposals and apply for grants as part of a team of collaborators;
•Work with the grants administration office and other UMB partners as needed to manage grants;
•Work with a team of students to carry out research projects;
•Collect original data (surveys, interviews and focus groups);
•Clean and analyze data;
•Perform and monitor personnel functions for designated students, subject to established university personnel policies in consultation with Director;
•Produce written products such as research papers, reports, and briefs for multiple audiences including academia, policymakers, practitioners, and laypeople;
•Deliver presentations to multiple audiences including academia, policymakers, practitioners, and laypeople;
•Network and develop partnerships with community organizations and collaborative partnerships;
•Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

A master’s degree in the social or behavioral sciences, public policy, public health, education, or law is required; A PhD degree in a related field of study is preferred: at least three years of relevant experience leading social policy research projects is required. Command of a range of research methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. Advanced knowledge of a statistical software package used to analyze data such as SPSS or STATA preferred. Excellent analysis, organizational, problem-solving, writing, and oral communication skills. A record of published work, such as journal articles, books chapters, and research reports on topics related to housing instability, public benefits, and workforce development. Ability to engage external collaborators including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and individuals. Ability to present information and findings in a cogent fashion, both written and oral, to a wide variety of audiences. Experience pursuing external funding preferred.

 

Application Instructions: 

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date. 

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting.  All other candidates will be considered after that period. 

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link: 

Grade:  31            

Salary Ranges

This is an exempt union position. 

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [email protected] or 617-287-5150.

Company at a glance

Located just minutes away from downtown Boston, UMass Boston's College of Management provides a top-tier, high-value business education with more than 2,000 students enrolled in undergraduate programs and nearly 600 studying in graduate programs.

The College of Management was recently ranked 48 in North America by TopMBA, as well as 47 in the world for Information Management. CM is also ranked as a best business school by Princeton Review, recognized for its part-time MBA by US News and World Report, and named a top program for veterans by Military Times. The College of Management's programs are AACSB-accredited, a distinction given to fewer than 700 business schools worldwide.

Recognized for its first-rate faculty and diverse, high-achieving student body, the college offers an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum tuned to the changing needs of the global economy. Classes are small, faculty are accessible and programs are flexible; designed to meet the needs of full-time and part-time students, many of whom are working professionals.

As Boston's public business school, CM is dedicated to educating the region's 21st century professional workforce and to maintaining strong ties to local employers in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Along with its academic programs, the College of Management sponsors research and development centers that foster innovation and new ideas that advance and sustain region's economy.

Founded1975
Team Size1,001-5,000 employees
WorkspaceOn-site
IndustryEducation Administration Programs
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Websiteumb.edu/cm
LinkedInLinkedIn

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